"The Man In The MIrror:Becoming What the Word Reveals"(James 1:22-27)
“The Man In The Mirror: Becoming What The WORD Reveals”
{James 1:1:22-27}...(06/21/25)
JAMES 1:22-27 But prove yourselves doers of the word [actively and continually obeying God’s precepts], and not merely listeners [who hear the word but fail to internalize its meaning] deluding yourselves [by unsound reasoning contrary to the truth]. 23 For if anyone only listens to the word [a]without obeying it, he is like a man who looks very carefully at his natural face in a mirror; 24 for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he immediately forgets [b]what he looked like. 25 But he who looks carefully into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and faithfully abides by it, not having become a [careless] listener who forgets but [c]an active doer [who obeys], he will be blessed and favored by God in what he does [in his life of obedience].
26 If anyone thinks himself to be religious [scrupulously observant of the rituals of his faith], and does not control his tongue but deludes his own heart, this person’s religion is worthless (futile, barren). 27 Pure and unblemished religion [as it is expressed in outward acts] in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit and look after the fatherless and the widows in their distress, and to keep oneself uncontaminated by the [secular] world.(AMP)
VS. 22) PROVE yourselves DOERS of The WORD, not merely hearers
DOER- Maker, Producer, AUTHOR, Performer,Poet..bottom line you FULFILL The Law
Romans 2:13 For not the Hearers of the Law are just before God but the doers are justified
Become a PRODUCER of the LOGOS ..this vs. connects back to vs. 21 abou receiving the IMPLANTED WORD…to have the Word planted in us will produce FRUIT in our lives
NASB…AMP…”But PROVE Yourselves Doers…”...Hebrews 2:1 Pay close attention to what we have heard lest we forget it
Vs. 23) Looks Very Carefully, Considers INTENTLY, Discovers…BEHOLD
Vs. 24) Immediately Forgets…NEGLECTS ..out of sight out of mind
Word-Picture of forgetting what kind of Person we are & meant to become…
Matthew 7:26,27 To not heed/do God’s WORD = to Build your house on sand
JAMES 2:14-18 What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good[a] is that? 17 So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
VS. 25) But he who looks carefully into the perfect law, the law of liberty,
LOOKS = To STOOP down & look carefully & observe, inspect curiously..The same word is used in Lk.24:12 & Jn. 20:5 of Both Peter & Mary peering in at the empty tomb of Jesus..also 1Peter 1:12 the angels wanting to LOOK into salvation
PERFECT = Telios….complete, mature, finished
LAW…= A STATE APPROVED of GOD, a thing that is ESTABLISHED, received through USEAGE
LIBERTY = FREEDOM,, Gal. 5:1…stand FAST in the LIBERTY of Christ
II Cor. 3:17-18 Now the Lord[a] is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18 And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord,[b] are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another.[c] For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.
ROMANS 8:2 For the law of the Spirit of life has set you[a] free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.
Hebrews 8:10, 10:16 I will put my laws in their Hearts & minds
**VERSE 25 Is the primary KEY to LIVING the edicts & lessons from the book of James**
· What we behold or LOOK at or into the most we become
· The KEY to understanding James and all of God’s Word is not as a ‘rule
book’, but rather a GUIDE OF or TOWARDS TRANSFORMATION
I Cor. 13:5 Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test!
Hebrews 4:11-12 Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience. 12 For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
Hebrew 10:25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.
PSALM 341I will bless the Lord at all times;
his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
2 My soul makes its boast in the Lord;
let the humble hear and be glad.3 Oh, magnify the Lord with me,
and let us exalt his name together!4 I sought the Lord, and he answered me
and delivered me from all my fears 5 Those who look to him are radiant,
I John 3:1-3 See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. 2 Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears[a] we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. 3 And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as
‘When He (Jesus) is made manifest to us we will be fathered or made into a Son just like or resembling Jesus BECAUSE we will have EXPERIENCED or BEHELD HIM’
· ‘Whoever has this favorable, joyful, expectation, makes themselves pure
So walk in the Spirit (Gal 5:16, Romans 8:1)..Live in the Spirit(Gal.5:25)
· We Become Pure by BECOMING Stewards of HIS PRESENCE..!!! + Judging ourselves by the WORD of God...BY being in that state of CONSTANTLY LOOKING INTO that Perfect Law of Liberty
Romans 8:4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
Vs. 26 “CONTROL/BRIDLE”= ‘To LEAD the Heart Astray”
A Preview of another important Theme in JAMES
JAMES 3:2-6 For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body. 3 If we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well. 4 Look at the ships also: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. 5 So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things.
How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! 6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life,[a] and set on fire by hell.[b]
Vs. 27) Pure & Undefiled Religion, that is NOT a hypocrite, but true & authentic LOVE in Action (Works)
ISAIAH 58:6-7 “Is not this the fast that I choose:
to loose the bonds of wickedness,
to undo the straps of the yoke,
to let the oppressed[a] go free,
and to break every yoke?
Is it not to share your bread with the hungry
and bring the homeless poor into your house;
when you see the naked, to cover him,
and not to hide yourself from your own flesh?
Matthew 25:35-40 For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 36 I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ 37 Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? 38 And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? 39 And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ 40 And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers,[a] you did it to me.’
I John 3:17-18 But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him? 18 Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.
· TO SUM THIS UP…….All we have discussed in James so far (& in the future) can be summed up in verse 25….IF you have FOUND that Perfect Law of LIBERTY(TREASURE),
1. Your perception & response to TRIALS will be as God desires
2. You WILL Develop Godly Patience
3. You WILL have Confidence To COME Before God with your needs & desires & not doubt
4. You will confidently seek God’s WISDOM
5. The ‘ LOOKING INTO’ IS THE PROCESS of HUMILITY’
